EPL: Mauricio Pochettino set to replace Mourinho at Manchester United

But things are far rosier in the Old Trafford garden than Mourinho portrays as United We Stand editor Andy Mitten told Joe Molloy as we tried to get a handle on why the United manager is emitting high doses of pessimism about the season ahead.

The 55-year-old manager took a dig at the transfer board as well as his players' performances in MI on Saturday and stated in a press conference, "The atmosphere was good but if I was them I wouldn't have come, I wouldn't have spent my money to watch these two teams".

The majority of United fans are hoping Mourinho can turn the situation around and inspire the club to glory this season, but his eyebrow-raising comments after Saturday's 4-1 defeat to fierce rivals Liverpool in MI led to criticism.

'People like Herrera, (Eric) Bailly, (Juan) Mata, (Matteo) Darmian, they were phenomenal all pre-season, playing nearly every minute of every game. It is our nature and our way to always want more for your team.

Despite Saturday's game drawing over 100,000 people to watch United and Liverpool on Saturday, Mourinho said he wouldn't have paid to watch his team in action and bemoaned the lack of big names on show in the USA this summer.

"You look at other countries with lots of players in the World Cup they start later - Spain and Italy start later.

There's no Champions League qualifier as there has been in previous seasons, partly because he led Manchester United to second in the league a year ago and I am surprised at how negative he has been". And I read into that he wants the best for the fans and the best for us and of course the best for him.

"It's something between the manager and the club. I wouldn't have spent my money to watch these two teams", Mourinho said. "So we have to push ourselves and obligate ourselves to fight for titles".

That leaves Paris Saint-Germain as the only club with any real interest, but they are unlikely to make any move unless they see Real Madrid finally come in with a serious offer for one of their stars.

On Friday Aug. 10, they open their Premier League campaign with a home clash against Leicester.